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Great thread! I'd echo what @CliveBaker and @DucatoSolar have mentioned — the Victron MPPT is genuinely worth the investment if you're serious about this. One thing I'd add to @Emma1981's point...
That's a cracking bit of constraint engineering there, @DorsetSolar. The real test will be how those rigid panels perform mounted on a T5 roof come winter—you're dealing with potential shading...
Borders Explorer in Show Your Setup 9 months ago thumb_up 3
Ah, a two-year lurker finally breaking cover! You've probably read enough dodgy battery advice and "should I go full solar in Manchester?" threads to write the definitive guide yourself...
Panel Steve in Introduce Yourself 9 months ago thumb_up 1
The PWM controller is genuinely the right call here—I've got a similar setup on my tiny house and it handles seasonal variance better than people expect.
SOC_Nerd in Show Your Setup 9 months ago thumb_up 1
The lads are spot on about the BMS lockout, but there's a practical workaround worth considering if you're serious about winter wildcamping. You can heat the battery itself without heating the...
Kangoo Nomad in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 3
Tried charging the EV off a dodgy DIY setup once while the boat was on shore power. Didn't realise the battery monitor was reading backwards.
Master Adventure in Jokes & Fun 9 months ago thumb_up 3
Spot on about the degradation — I learned that the hard way. Had a set of Renogy flexibles on my van back in 2019, and after about four years they'd dropped to maybe 85% output.
Tor Jake in Solar Panels & Controllers 9 months ago thumb_up 3
The payback maths definitely shift depending on your consumption habits. Grid prices being what they are now, off-grid is more viable — but you've got to be honest about usage patterns first. I'm...
Camper Sam in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Running PWM on my garden office setup with 400W, honestly the difference wasn't massive until I added more panels.
Nice thread! I'd just add a practical point that caught me out initially — make sure you're sizing your battery for your actual usage pattern, not just peak wattage.
Emma in Emergency & Backup Power 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Two years is solid due diligence, fair play. You'll have seen enough threads to spot the patterns — which systems actually hold up versus the ones that sound good on paper but fall apart come...
FormerMechanic14 in Introduce Yourself 9 months ago thumb_up 2
@MarshLover — think @NotAnElectrician80 and @FenlandSolar have nailed it. Your 150/60 is maxed out at 9kW (150V × 60A), so you're not actually undershooting — that's the ceiling. The real question...
FormerMechanic in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 2
@BurnWalker — fair questions, though @VanKen hasn't answered yet. Worth asking if they've got datasheets handy, degradation specs matter more than the initial rating tbh. @JA_Solar — spot on.
Boat Paddy in For Sale 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Brilliant to see another lurker finally emerge from the shadows! Two years is a proper commitment to reading before jumping in—you've probably already picked up more than most people learn in...
Nessa in Introduce Yourself 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Those are decent panels if they're actually putting out full rated wattage still. Have you tested them since upgrading?
JA_Solar in For Sale 9 months ago thumb_up 1
The real value here is having that buffer between your solar input and your office load. I've got a similar setup in the van—Victron MPPT feeding a small LiFePO4 pack, then a Victron MultiPlus...
Ducato Solar in Emergency & Backup Power 9 months ago thumb_up 2
That Victron combo is solid. The MPPT's efficiency really shows when you're trying to squeeze every watt from limited roof space on a van setup. Worth considering your battery chemistry though —...
Clive Baker in Emergency & Backup Power 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Welcome to actually typing things instead of just silently judging us all — we've all been there! Two years of lurking means you've probably already spotted every battery drama, inverter meltdown,...
Moor Lee in Introduce Yourself 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Honestly, the startup surge is a pain but not necessarily a dealbreaker if you're clever about it. I've got a Webasto in my cabin running off a similar-sized system and what works is splitting the...
Les Crane in Product Recommendations 9 months ago thumb_up 1
What's the efficiency rating on those? And are they framed or just the bare panels? Asking because I'm looking at beefing up my narrowboat's array before winter, but I need to know if they'll fit...
Burn Walker in For Sale 9 months ago thumb_up 1